Pre-Master's in Sustainable Entrepreneurship

You are eligible if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You have completed an HBO (applied sciences) degree related to business / economics or a related field ; or

• You hold a university degree but lack sufficient coursework in economics/business and research methods.

The duration of the pre-master's is 9 weeks. Classes start in February 2026 and are held over the course of 9 sessions.

The sessions are primarily held on-site in Leeuwarden, but online options are available upon request.

• For NL/EU students: €294

• For non-EU/EER students: €1946
  

Students enrolled at a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo) can take the Pre-Master’s alongside their hbo programme and only pay one tuition fee. This effectively saves you a full year of tuition.

You completed your studies at a university of applied sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands, follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD. Students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD.

2. Find the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master’s
   After filling in all the details about your previous education, you can go to the next step, ‘Choose a study programme’. Here, fill in the information in the image below and find the programme called SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PRE-MASTER, ENGLISH TAUGHT). Select the programme, then choose the start date (September 1st, 2026) and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review the study details you entered. If everything is correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Wait to hear back from us
   You will receive an email with instructions on how to proceed with your application.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer Marijke Huisman-Wolters at cf-se rug.nl 

You completed your studies at a Dutch research university (WO).

Are you unsure whether your educational background meets our entry requirements? No worries, we make it easy to verify your eligibility. Our Admissions Board will review your background and decide whether a pre-master’s is required or if you can start the Master's programme right away.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD. Students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD.

2. Find the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master’s
   Go to "Choose a study programme". Use the search bar to find the programme easily. Select the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master’s, choose the start date (September 1st, 2026), and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review your details. If they are correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Wait to hear back from us
   You will receive an email with instructions on how to proceed.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer Marijke Huisman-Wolters at cf-se rug.nl 

You have a degree from outside the Netherlands and want to check whether you need to follow a pre-master’s programme. Our Admissions Board will review your background and decide whether a pre-master’s is required before you can enter the Master Programme or if you can start the Master's right away.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account (the national admissions portal) and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD; students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD. You can find a step-by-step guide in the Studielink portal.

2. Find the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master’s
   Go to ‘Choose a study programme’. Use search bar to find the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Master's easily. Select the programme, choose the start date (September 1st, 2026), and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review your details. If they are correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Continue in the Progress Portal
   You will receive an email about activating your UG account. This email also includes login instructions for the Progress Portal.
   Complete your application by uploading the application documents. For guidance on completing your application in the Progress Portal, check this website.
   Finalise and submit your application as soon as possible.

5. Wait to hear back from us
   Our Admissions Board will review your application and decide whether you need a pre-Master’s.
   You will receive an email from us with instructions on the next steps.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer, Marijke Huisman-Wolter,s at cf-se rug.nl 

This Pre-Master's is your first step toward building a meaningful career in one of the most critical fields of our time. Moreover:

• Direct admission: successfully completing this pre-master not only guarantees your entry into the Master's, but also ensures you have the knowledge and skills needed to excel from day one.

• Become a changemaker in sustainable business: the MSc Sustainable Entrepreneurship prepares you to tackle global challenges, from transitioning to a circular economy to addressing environmental and social obstacles. With this pre-master, you’ll start building the knowledge and tools to contribute to these efforts.

• Develop actionable research skills: gain a strong foundation in research methodologies, enabling you to design practical solutions to real-world problems and write compelling proposals that make a difference.

• Bridge the gap between theory and practice: this pre-master equips you with the skills to translate academic knowledge into impactful business strategies.

• Open doors to diverse career paths: our graduates of the MSc Sustainable Entrepreneurship are highly sought after professionals with many career options in sectors such as sustainable consulting, corporate social responsibility and of course launch their own purpose-driven businesses.

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Apply philosophy of science concepts to the defined problem for research;

• Develop a research design to solve a defined problem;

• Write a structured and balanced research proposal, applying critical reflection and sound argumentation on made choices;

• Present a written version of the research proposal;

• Understand present societal challenges regarding sustainable development from an organizational perspective;

• Identify a relevant problem, based on existing literature and/or management practice.

The Pre-Master's is worth 7 ECTS, which equals an investment of almost 200 hours. There are 9 sessions of 2 hours, which leaves around 180 hours of self study and working on assignments.